African Beads
Beads are an integral part to African traditions across the continent. Beads are worn for religious, social, and beautifying purposes. In Africa, beads have always been playing an important role in defining who we are as a people.
For most tribes on the continent beads represent femineity, masculinity, beauty, tradition, marital status, wealth, and life cycle. Beads are mainly made from pottery, glass, or precious or semi-precious stones, metal, as well as natural materials such as ivory bones, coral, teeth, rock crystal, seeds or shells.
More than 500 years ago, they were used as a form of currency by traders from Europe, India, and Middle East. During this this glass bead making technologies were not yet established on the continent therefore making colorful beads very attractive and highly valued to the African elite who were willing to accept the beads as a form of exchange for gold, ivory, palm oil and slaves from European traders.
African jewelry making has become a fashionable expression of one’s personality and individualism.